The UCI (Unión de Créditos Inmobiliarios) (an organization specialized in sustainable housing finance) recently brought together 27 CEOS and top managers from major real estate chains in Spain to discuss all the variables affecting the property market. Discussion occurred at the 1st Inmociónate Residential Forum, a meeting held as part of Inmociónate 2021 and aimed at professionals in the sector.
The forum also featured a debate moderated by José Manuel Fernández, UCI deputy director general. Participants expressed their expectations and suggestions for improving the real estate sector and housing affordability.
Topics highlighted included regulatory issues, new business models, value-added real estate services, technology and digitalization, demographic housing, health and wellbeing, and the current sector situation and expectations for 2022 based on previous results of a survey conducted among CEOS and top managers of major real estate chains who participated in the forum.
When asked about regulation of real estate brokerage, 8 out of 10 executives said they agree with introducing a rule similar to that for financial brokerage, but with an emphasis on consumer protection and transparency.
Gerard Duelo, President of the Association of Real Estate Agents, was optimistic about the new housing law and said the regulation “is a unique opportunity that we must not let go of without trying to clean up the mess.”
In turn, Maria José Corrales, President of Vivienda, noted that “Europe stands for the self-regulation of sectors through specialized qualifications and training”. She added that “the main goal of training is to be useful and beneficial to consumers.”